Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning Saturday for west Vancouver Island.
Close to 100 millimetres was expected to fall in some areas by Sunday morning.
“Heavy rainfall in combination with other weather factors, such as hail, wind and lightning will make outdoor activities unsafe,” said the warning issued at 9:30 a.m.
The rain, from an intense Pacific frontal system, started falling Friday around midnight and has been falling steadily ever since, said Yimei Li, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
By 4 p.m. Saturday , 67 millimetres had fallen at Kennedy Lake, 62 millimetres had fallen on Estevan Point north of Tofino and 55 millimetres had drenched Tofino Airport.
“We’re still looking at a total of 100 millimetre,” said Li, who had not heard any reports of flooding.
The rain is expected to stop Sunday morning and taper off to a few showers, she said.
The downpour was accompanied by southeast winds gusting from 50 kilometres an hour to 80 kilometres an hour.
Heavy rain is not uncommon on west Vancouver Island, but is more common in winter months, said Li.
“We often get 100 millimetres of rain a few times a year in the winter,” she said.
Environment Canada reminds drivers to turn on their lights and maintain a safe following distance if visibility is reduced.
To report severe weather, send an email to [email protected] or tweet reports using #BCStorm.
